Commissioners Looking For Solutions To Flooding

How could anyone forget the flooding that and did to the area of Haverford? 

In the beginning of the commissioners meeting, the township recognized members of the fire company that helped during the storm’s disruptive path.

Residents are still looking for answers due to the massive amounts of flooding that the storms caused. The seasons may be changing to colder forms of wetness, but this time around next year, residents don’t want the same problems happening again.

Darby Cobb Creek caused many residents to evacuate from their homes. The pump is in Haverford Township, but the state is supposed to handle matters when it comes to flooding. The creek also flows within another townships. 

The township’s hands are tied.

“What I am asking for is a study to be done if possible,” said Catherine Campanello.“The two townships (Upper Darby and Haverford) need to get together. We have reached over 6.2 inches of rain an hour. Over 100 people are affected. One person totally lost his unit.”

A study done in 2005 showed that the pump was capable of working when the creek overflows.

Campanello has complained to both townships looking for answers.

“I have complained to them,” said Campanello. “I have looked at zoning maps and I have done a lot of research.

Haverford Township looks to have to do research as well to keep up with the massive amounts of rain that seems to be falling on the entire east coast of the country.

“I don’t know the answer to that, but we will find out,” commissioner William F. Weschler told residents. “We will get to our experts.”

After the meeting, Weschler stated, “It is a state issue and not a township issue. We will see if we can get the core of engineers to get a lead on that.” 

Weschler also stated that his commissioners are fully aware of the floods that hit the residents a few months ago.

“We had some major flooding behind the post office and we had a couple of sanitary sewage overflow on the Darby Creek side,” said Weschler. “We had some significant flooding with the storms that hit us a month or so ago.”

The pumps can only sustain so much. With the rate the rain was falling, floodwaters were bound to rise.

“We had eight inches of hour,” said Weschler. “It happens. We have had three of those the past eight years.”

All residents can do now is wait, and hope that the upcoming winter months will be kind to them.